Digitalizing medical records

You have expressed how I feel.  In my case there is little that I would feel the need to keep secret, although even my depression issues I would not want made available publicly.

Indeed digital information processing has many advantages - BUT - no computer system is completely safe.  While there are 'unhackable' systems, there will be hackers determined to ensure that this is not the case.  While the original hacker may just be doing it 'for the thrill', data can be sold or fall into the hands of those who will abuse it. Deborah has pointed out the potential for abuse, should such data fall into the hands of a blackmailer, and other scenarios can be imagined.

I have worked in the Medical Records field now for over 20 years. (more commonly

called Health Information now, why it had to be changed..??? you got me.)

There is no easy way to maintain peoples medical information.  Handwritten, paper records present many issues.......bad handwriting (not just by Dr's),  loose papers that come to the HI dept after discharge (test results mostly)  have a better chance of being misfiled, aka-lost forever, paper is easily destroyed, by spilled liquids, getting stuck in copy machines, and even falling down the side of a desk or filing cabinet not to be discovered for years.   The cost of storage and transferring to micro film or disc are considerable.   Dr's offices and hospitals charge for copies of records if you want them and they have 30 days to comply with your request, not very timely.

I figure allll of my financial information is computerized, taxes, payroll, social security records.......why bother extorting some one by stealing their medical information by hacking........just go right to the source.... hack the bank records, tax records,---- cuts out the middle man